It isn’t your imagination. Derrick White has been historically great in the clutch this season
White shot 56 percent from 3-point range in such situations.
If it feels like Derrick White is almost automatic late in tight games, that’s because he is.
According to Celtics.com’s Taylor Snow, the Celtics guard posted the third-best clutch 3-point shooting percentage ever during the regular season. Clutch time refers to the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when the score is within five points.
Steve Nash had the best mark (63.3 percent) in 2001-02, Karl-Anthony Towns is second in 2020-21 (57.7), then comes White (14 for 25, 56 percent) this year.
A familiar name is also fifth on the list: Paul Pierce (55.2 percent in 2013-14).
Max Strus (50 percent) was the only other player to shoot above 45 percent from distance in such situations.
White also shot 56.7 percent from the floor and 86.7 percent from the line in the clutch, was plus-56, and only had five turnovers in 120 clutch minutes.
He was nominated for the Clutch Player award, but didn’t receive any media votes. Teammate Jayson Tatum received one third place media vote to tie for 10th place. Knicks guard Jalen Brunson won the award.
White is averaging 23.5 points, 5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, and is shooting 50 percent from the field, 45.5 percent from 3-point range, and 100 percent from the free-throw line through two playoff games.
As of Thursday afternoon, he’s leading all players with 10 3-pointers in the postseason.
Wednesday night, in the Celtics’ 109-100 Game 2 triumph over the Orlando Magic, White was one of many players to step up in Jayson Tatum’s absence.
He buried two 3s in less than a minute midway through the fourth, helping the Celtics extend the margin to 12 and ultimately prevail.
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